Supporting and centering device for car couplers



Mayas, 1926. y A Y *1,585,948

:C. H. TOMLINSON j SUPPORTING AND CENTERINQDEVICE FOR .GAR CCUPLES Filed-NOV. 2.1., 1924 2 sheets-smet` 2 Patented May 25, 1926.

CHARLES I-I. TOMLINSON, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE 'ILOIVILIN'StH` COUPLER COMPANY, OF MANSFIELD, OHIO, A CORPORATON OF OHO.

SUPPORTING AND CENTERING DEVICE FOR CAR COUPLERS.-

Application filed November 21, 1924. Serial No. 751,204.

My invention relates to ear coupling devices and to that class of device for supporting and centeringthe car coupler.

rlhe object of my invention is to provide a device for supporting and maintaining the car coupler in a predetermined position when the cars are in an uncoupled relation and Which can be made to engage and disengage with the car coupler at will of the operator.

Another object of my invention is to have the centering and supporting elements moved into and out of engagement with the car coupler substantially simultaneously, and in which their simultaneous operation is automatic.

Another object ot my invention is to have the supporting and centering mechanism automatically moved out of or into engagement `With the car coupling device on two coupled cars upon opening or closing respectively the air valves controlling the flow .of air through the car couplers,

With cars equipped With-couplers which operate upon short radius curves, it is necessary to pivotally ,mount the couplers to swing through quite an angular displacement on either side of the longitudinal center line of the car. Such couplers are often Vvery heavy and require considerable et'ort upon the part of an operator to move the couplers to a central position, or approximately so7 When coupling` up two cars. In steam road operation the curves are usually of long radius and angular movement ot the couplers is not necessarily great and a cenT tering device whichl is in operation at all times can be employed.

In the operation ot systems in which the coupler is necessarily mounted to have a great lateral swing7 itis vnot practical to have a centering device which is under operation all the time, that is, in which the coupler is constantly operating the centering device Whenever the car is operated around a curve. I have, therefore, invented a mechanism in which the centering device is moved out of operative engagement with the coupier upon the coupling ot tivo cars and thereafter at will of the operator. This mechanism also has incorporated with it the movement of the supporting elements yout of enagagement With the coupler head at vvill ot the operator after tvvo cars have been coupled together. Also, the operation ot the supporting and centering` mechanism is so combined and coordinated that the movements of the same out of and into operative relation With the coupler is made simultaneously at the Will of the operator.

rlihe majority of cars at the present day are equipped vvith air brake systems in which each car is provided with air brake mechanism and the air brake mechanism of one car is coupled to that of the adjoining car through the medium ot pneumatic couplings made and held in coupled relation by the mechanical or car coupler upon impact ot the ears. The opening et the pneumatic system from car to car is usually brought about automatically upon impact of the cars or by hand operation after the car coupling has been made and likewise the closing oi the air communication from car to car is made automatically or by hand at the time ot uncoupling the cars. I make use et' the air pressure in the pneumatic system for operation oi my invention, and also couple my invention in With the pneumatic system such that when the`pneu1natic system on the two cars is completely coupled and in operative relation, my supporting and centering mechanism is out .of engagement With the coupler head, but when the communication ol' the pneumatic system trom car tocar is interrupt-ed, the centering and supporting mechanism will automatically be brought back into normal ope ative relationwith the coupler head. y

1While I have stated that my invention is particularly applicable to cars equipped with pneumatic air brake systems, `still it is evident that it can be instailedand operated upon cars Which are not equipped with the air brake system, by installing on the car afpneumatic syst-em suitable ior creating the necessary supply ot air, but occasions of this nature will be very remote as most cars, as stated, are equipped with the air brake system at the present day.

It will be apparent that when two cars are operating in coupled relation and my invention has been moved out of operative relation with the car couplers, that the ,couplers are free to move laterally due to the cars swinging around a curve or to move vertically due to the cars operating over a break in grade.

My invention resides in the new and novel construction, combination and arrangement of the various parts hereinafter described and shown in the drawings accompanying this specification and later set forth in the claims, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modilications may be made from the preferred embodiment of my invention herein disclosed.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a front view in partial section ot my invention shown as supportingv a car coupler (in section), as would be the case when my invention was in normal operative relation with the car coupler, on a car in uncoupled relation with respect to another car.

Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side view ot two cars in coupled relation and shows the relation of the mechanism to the car coupler at'ter the operator has caused the supporting` and centering mechanism to move out otl operative relation with the car couplers. This view shows the relation of the parts when in t'ull operative position.

F Ll shows an end view ot F 3 taken on the line Ll-l to further show the relation of the centering' and supportingmechanism with respect to the car coupler when the cars are in full operative relation.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. l.

Fig'. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a schematic view showing the pneumatic connections trom my mechanism to the source ot air supply, and manually operated means for controlling` the supply of air Jfrom one car to the other when the cars are in coupled relation, and to the centering` and supporting mechanism.V

1n the preferred embodiment ot my invention, I have shown the same. as secured to the structural steel sills 1 oll a car body. I have also shown a structural iron crossbeam 2 to which the anchorage member 3 is secured for pivotally attachimrn the car coupler 4 to the car body.

My invention proper comprises two oppositely disposed air cylinders secu-fed to the steel car sills 1 by means ot the bolts 6. Mounted within each cylinder 5 is a piston 7 to which is secured the piston rod 3. To the lower end of the cylinder is threadably secured a cup shaped liange 9 having` a central. orilice therein through which the piston rod S may reciprocate. Between the flange 9 and the piston 7 within the cylinder 5 is positioned the spring' 10 normally maintain` ing the piston 7 in its upward or retracted position.

To the lower end of the piston rod 3 is secured a cross-beam 1.1 for surportingl the coupler el and ttor carrying the centering mechanism. This crosssbeam comprises two spaced structural steel members 12 entire throughout their length. At each end of the two members 12 is secured a tubular member 13 secured to the members 12 by means of the bolts or rivets 14.

Positioned at the center ot the members 12 and between the same is the central spaci ing block 15 secured to the men'il'iers l2 by the through bolts or rivets 1G. filecured adjacent the end of the member 13 are lugs '1T to which the end ol the piston rod 3 is secured by means ot the pin l? whereby the members 3 and 11 will move upw downwaidly simultaneously and a?. p slightly about the pin 13 should there be any tendency 'for one piston to more more rapidly than the other. The extreme end ci the member 13 is provided with two spaced ai 'l projecting members 19, and secured to the members 12 by bolts or rivets 20, whicn in turn secure the member 13 more strongly to the members 12, as the memlfiers l) are in integral part ot the member 13. i.)ositioncd between the members 19 is a shive or pulley 21 mounted on the cross-pin and about which the pulley 21 rotates. At thel extreme upper portion of the projecting' niemberrs 'ift is a cross-pin 23 to which is secured a cable socket 24.

Positioned between the members l2. on each side of the spacing; member l5 and movable lengthwise of the beam 11, is the reciprocating` member 25 which is movable, between the spacing,` meniber l5 and the :idjacent end ot the member 13. The member 25 is provided with an i1 pf-4tanrlini;i lug 26 to engage with the coupler 4l, also project-- ing support members 2l' resting; upon the members 12 and also thc members 2S engaging' with the lower tacos ol the members 12. lllhe members 2T and 23 act as guide members and means to maintain the reciprocating member 25 in slidable relation with respect to the members 12. 'The member 25 is provided with a cup shaped openim;Y (36 and there is mounted in this opening; (it and the opening 67 in the member 13 a spring; GS tending` normally to hold the mei r .25 in engagement with the member 15, or at least urgingl the meniber 25 to more toward the center ot the beam 11. Positioned ceutrally of the member 25 is a plunger 29 pro vided with a head 30 normally engaging the member 2f. 'llo the rear end ot the member 29 is a pin 31 to which is secured the cable socket 32. The sockets 2li and 32 are connected by means of the tlexible cable 233. rlhe cable 33 passes over the shives 2l and 34 and is sudiciently long' such that when the beam 11 is in its normal upward position the members 25 will be in their normal position adjacent the center ot the beam ll. The shive 3st is mounted on the pin 35 which in turn is secured to the spaced lugs 3i? upon the cylinders 5. A

The springs 10 and (38 should each be strong; enough to perform its indiif'idual lli `.coupled together.

function, that is, the springs 19 should be sutliciently strong' to raise" the beam il, with the couple-r resting` thereon, to the normal position ot the coupler, as shown in Fig. l, and either spring' GS should be suiciently strongv to move the coupler to the central position when the coupler is restingl upon the beam l1 and out ot center. It the springs are stronger than necessary to pertorm their individual functions, it will be apparent that one spring will tend to assist the other in periforining its function.

By means of the cable connections, as shown. the member 25 will be moved twice the distance that the piston 7 moves and this is ot advantage 'tor the .reason that the lateral n'ioven'ientoLt the coupler when in coupled operative relation with another car is liable to be very much greater than the vertical nioven'ient ot the coupler, therefore, a construction in which the centeringl elements move a greater distance from the supportingl element is ot advantage.

The coupler head 4, as shown, is provided with a trough lilre member 37 which rests directly upon the members l2 and the membcrs`2 are made ot suttlcient height such that they will engage with the member 37 should the coupler heads swing` too tar in either lateral direction when two cars are By making` the members 2U to he engaged by the member 37, it the lateral swing ot the coupler is excessive, such construct-ion prevents the accidental positioning ot the coupler on the side ot the member 2G toward the cylinders 5 and at the same time permits an excessive swing ot the coupler body, further compressing the spring' (SS and until the adjacent ends ot the f members 12') and 25 meet or the spring 68 t'ully compressed. lt is quite apparent that relative movenient ot' the various parts is a matter ot design to meet the requirements oit actual practice and may vary under 7aryiugr conditions.

The operation ot my invention is brought about by supplying to the cylinder 5 air pressure trom the 'fluid-pressure system. ln Fig. 7 is shown schematically a couplerV 4 pivotally n'iounted at 8 to pivot longitudinally along` the supporting beam ll which is sluipen-teil by the pistons and springs contained within the cylinders 5. There is also shown a reservoir 3S. which may be the usual reservoir ot the brake system, and which is supplied with air trom an air compressor through the pipe 39 leading' into the pipe 49. As illustrated, l have shown two iluidpressure lines 41 and 42 positioned above and-below the coupler 4 respectively. and terniinatiug in the. tace thereoie at 4? and 44 respectively. The line 41 I have shown as connected to the reservoir 38 through the ot the hose 47 and piping 48 and 49 to the air brake control system. rlhe flow of air through the pipes 4l and 42 is controlled by vby means ot the valves 50 and 5l respectively, which are connected by a common shaft 52 to which is connected the operating` handle 5?. From the pipe 46 leads a pipe which in turn leads to the branch pipes and 56 and one ot these branch pipes leads to one cylinder 5 and t-he other branch pipe leads to the other cylinder 5.

lt will he apparent that it two cars are standing in an uncoupled position, that the relation ot the coupler and supporting and centering mechanism will beV as shown in Figs. l and 2. lt' these cars are brought togetner, the air connectors 48 and 44 on the two cars will be brought into coupled relationA by impact and the cars, together with the air couplers, will be held in coupled relation by the interlocl'ing hoolrs 57. My car and air coupler may be of such a construction as shown in my Patent No.

1,094,612, issued April 28, 1914, or ot other suitable make. As soon as the two cars are brought together and coupled, the operator will then move the handle 53 so aste complete communication trom car to car through the couplers 4 and simultaneously tl erewith air pressure will flow to the cylinders 5 and torce the pistons and piston rods therein downwardly against the tension ot the. springs l0, and will simultaneously and automatically therewith cause the .member 25 to move away from the centerand the beam 1l to move downwardly thereby leaving` the connected couplers tree of the supporting` and centering mechanism.

Tililhen it is desired to uncouple the cars, the operator will move the handle 53 in the opposite position so that the valves will taire the position shown in Fig. 7. This will cut otl' the air communication from car to car through the couplers 4, and will also relieve the pressure in the cylindersV 5 through the relief port 58 in the valve 50,

vand this will permit the springs l() and Gti to ieriforni their function ot'returning` the supporting` and centering mechanism to its normal position. ylhis having been done,`-

the operator will then proceed to separate his cars. li the cars are operated on a curve the position o' the coupler will be to one side ot the longitudinal center line, but when the couplers arel mechanically uncoupled, one ot the members 25 through the operation et the springs will move the coupler to its central position, as shown in Figs. l and 2.

lt will be .apparent that should the cars break apart while moving` under normal operating conditions, that `the air will be released from the cylinders 5 through the pipes and 56 respectively, through the pipe 54, the hose 45 and the pipe 4l to atmosphere, and the supporting mechanism will 'function eutoineticnlly to support find position the coupler on each oit the cars, and it the nii' system is operating' nir brakes with automatic setting', the brakes will he subject to :in emergency application und the curs automatically stopped.

I have shown the simplest 'torni ot' operating' mechanism, tlnit is, mnd operated vulves :ind ."l, which, of course, will require operation in euch ot two coupled curs in order to tully complete the uir connech tions from cnr to cnr although the operation oi' the vulves 50 end el on one cnr supplied with nir pressure will he suiiicient to operate the centering und supporting nieclninisin on the two cnrs, iis they both connected to pii cs hetwefi the vulves ou two cooperii However, the vulves 5() and 5l muy he ed siiiniltzineously opei on both cuis ais shown in iny Patent- No. 1,223,223, issued fipril '17, i917, :ind thereby coiniileting the coupling operation on two coupled curi-i and movingr the entering und supporting mechanism to its coupled posh tion, :is shown in Fig. hy un ope utor po sitioiiee. in one otl the curs, or vice versn.

lVhile I have described the operation ot my invention in connection with pneumatic or air pressure derivee troni the siii' broke system or :in independent source ot nir supply, it will he evident tlmt my invention ciin :ilse he operated hy other huid-pressure ineens than air. :is Jfor instance, on oil muy te used or other liquid which will not thicken or 'treeze in cold wei ther, :is for instiince, ceriiin grades ot lubri sting oil or fustor oil which, under some circumstances, is mixed with n thinner which will not freeze, such :is alcohol, or a non-freezing water solution may be used coi iprising water mixed with ai suiiicient quantity ot' alcohol. ln the use of liquids, such as oils, water, etc. the proper apparatus for securing the necessary pressure would be required, but these ure old und wefl known in the arts in connection i 'ith hydraulic systems of various sorts. When n liquid pressure is used to operate my invention, the port 5S will he connected hack to the compressing zipporetus in place of discharging to the atmosphere so that the fluid vmedium could be used over und oif'er, otherwise the system would lie very expensive. Therefore, I do not wish to he'liinited to the use ot nir or pneumatic pressure :is the operating inediun'i for my ii'iventionn I claim:

1. A con'ihiiied supporting,` und centering device for couplers comprising mechanism for moving` the supporting,` and centering,- elements either into or out o't operative rehition with the coupler.

2. A comhined supporting und centering device ior couplers comprising mechanism for moving the supporting und centering elements either into or out of operative reiit-ion with the coupler suhstuntinly siinul- L i teneousry.

3. A combined supnorting und centering` ce 'for coupiers comprising fluid-pressure ted ine-chini'nn 'tor movingy the supzind centerup` elements out of opfren'ient with the coupler. el. A combined supporting und center-iupdevice 'tor couplers coini'irisingi` {'iuid-pressure Jeriitcd n echunisni 'For moving' the suporting und centering' elements out of opriitive jinent with the coupler und spring' opere ed mechanism to move the cen- :pporting elements into operii- Lt i Z l si' 'e rehition with the coupler.

o. ii combined centering; und supporting device couplers con'iprising,` nir-einmism periiting lo nove the centering elements rom erich other und simultaneously ie supl'ioi'ting element uy from the (3. A device combined si'ipporting' :ind centering' tor couplers comprising :i spring heid the coupicrs, spring held cenmounted upon the support operated menus to inove i nt" zii'ziy 'troni their cenrising in uid-presni-cnns to move the support D inition u support element, li eure operated eiciricnt om oi operative reiiition with the coupler und spring' operated ineens to move `he i :in into opei'utive relation n' pi'ieingi;` iii coinlrnu cenlcrinff elements mounted tlercon :ind

holding'hthe coupler central und Huid-pressure operated ineens to move the centering elements nwuv i'roin the coupler.

ll. A centering;l device 'for n coupler coinpr sing in con'ihinetion u support element, spring hed centering' elements mounted .L il

2 iereoii und vielding'ly holdinp` the coupler central und fluid-pressure operated ineens to move the centering elements awiiy iroin the coupler.

l2. The coinhinutien with u centering device 'for o coupler, of u Huid-pressure opcreteil menus to move the centeringdevice out or operative relation with the coupler.

i3. The combination with a centering device 'for a coupler, ol means to more the centering` device either out ot or into operative relation with the coupler will.

ifi. r.the coiiiiiination with :e spring held centering device tor a coupler, ot means to move tlierenlering device veither out ot or into operative le ation with the coupler at will.

l5. .ai combined support.ne` and centering device 'tor coupli comprising in combination, a suiliporting means and centering` means mounted thereon and means to move the supporting and the centering means out o'l operative relation with the coupler.

i6. A combined supporting and centering device for couplers comprising in combination, a supporting means and centering means mounted 'thereon and means to move the supporting and the centering means out of operative engagement with the coupler, the movement ot' the centering means being not less than twice that ot the supporting means.

17. rThe combination with a car and air coupling system 'for two cooperating cars comprising` a plurality ot fluid-pressure connections through the coupling devices ot fluid-pressure operated means on each car to support and center the coupler, means on each car to control the fluid-pressure connections and to control the operation of the supporting and centering means either out of or into operative relation with the coupler at will ot the operator.

18. rilhe combination with a. car and air coupling system tor two cooperating cars comprising` a tluid-pressrufe connection through the coupling devices, ot {luid-pressure operated means on each car to support and center the couplers When uncoupled fluid connections to the fluid pressure operating means, means on each car to open or close the iiiiid-1ncssriie connections and means to inter-connect the fluid-pressure connections to the fluid-pressure operated means and the `fluid-pressure connection through the couplers to move the Huid-pressure operated ineans on each car away from the couplers when the fluid-pressure connection through the coupling devices is open and vice versa.

19. ln a car and {luid-pipe coupling system on two cooperating cars, the fluid-pipe connections being on the faces ot the car couplers, fluid-pressure operated means on each car tor supporting` and centering the couplers on the cars and means on each car to control the fluid-pipe connections and operate the duid-pressure operated centering and supporting means on both cars when the controlling means lf'or the i'luid pipe connections on both cars have been operated.

20. In a car and fluid-pipe coupling system for tivo cooperating cars, means to control the fluid-pipe connections, to center and support the couplers at the time of coupling' the cars and means operated troni the duid-pipe system to automatically move the centering and supporting means out ot operative relation with the cou1 2l. In a car and fluid-pipe coupling systein tor two cooperating cars, means on each car to control the fluid-pipe connections,l

means on each car to center and support the couplers at the time of coupling the ears and means on each car operated troni the iiuid-pipe system to automatically -move the centering and supporting means on bot-li cars out ot operative relation with the couplers.

system of fluid-pipe coupling for two cooperating cars con'iprising a fluidconnectioni through the couplingdevicesl, means on each of the cars for supporting and centering the coupling devices and operated by Huid-pressure to move out ot operative relation with the coupling devices a'l'ter the coupling otl the cars has been effected, devices on each of the cars to control the fluid-pipe connections and the supporting and centering means to open or close the Huid-pipe connections on one car and simultaneously move the centering and supporting means on both cars ont of operative relation with the coupling devices and other means to move the centering and supporting means into operating relation with the. coupling devices.

In car and fluid couplers, the combina` tion with a mechanical coupling which is interlocked upon impact of the coupler heads, ot' fluid connecting means engaged upon impact and air circuits leading therefrom and cooperating with corresponding parts when the mechanical coupling is made, means to support and center the couplers and means controlled by manual operation for simultaneously completing the fluid connection through adiacent coupler heads and moving the supporting and centering means out ot operative relation with the couplers after the mechanical coupling has been made.

2st. The combination with a. car and air coupling device of a supporting and centering mechanism therefor, fluid-pressure operated means to move the mechanism out ot engagement with the coupling devices and means to control the operation ot the pneumatic means.

25. The combination with a car and air coupling device having a universal connection with acar body and adapted to maintain alinement nith a cooperating coupling device when coupled, of a supporting mechanism theret'or, fluid-pressure operated means to move they mechanism out ot engagement with the coupling devices after they are in Pkcoupled relation 4and means to control. the

operation of the iluid-presSure means.

.Q A. supporting and centering mechanism for a coupler pivotally mounted to swing lateral ly comprising supporting,` means i'i'or the coupler, centeringl means for the coupler, means to move the supporting` and the centering means out of normal operative engagement with the coupler, the centering means arranged to be engaged by the coupler if the coupler swings beyond a predetermined distance.

27. A centering mechanism for a coupler pivota-lly mounted to swing laterally, comprising centering means to move the coupler to its central position, means to move the centering means out of normal operative engagement with the coupler, the centering means arranged to be engaged by the coupler if the coupler swings beyond a predetermined distance.

28. A supporting and centering` device for couplers comprising a horizontally mounted supporting bar, a Huid-pressure operated piston mounted in a cylinderl at each end ot the bar and adapted to be suspended from the car body, means connecting the pistons to the ends of the bar, a spring in each cylinder to maintain the pistons in their upper positions, means to admit air to the cylinders above the pistons to move them dovfn- Ward, centering members mounted on the bar to move longitudinally thereof, springs acting upon the centering members to move them toward each other and into operative relation with the coupler, means connected to the centering members to move them away from each other When the bar is moved downward.

In testimony whereof I affix mv signature.

CHARLES H. TOMLINSON. 

